A Hollywood Christmas

It's Christmas time and the stars from Monolithic Studios are celebrating in style.

A restyled White Hyacinth coat keeps diva extraordinaire Madra Lord cozy and stylish while Christmas shopping.  Hat and coat are from Ashton Drake.  Gloves, belt, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Pool Pose Madra Lord is from Integrity.

The always glamorous Zita Charles wears a simply chic black jersey gown from Sandra Stillwell.  Fur wrap is from Mattel.  Jewels are from Ashton Drake.  Parfait Zita Charles is from Integrity.

Everybody's favorite star Gene Marshall relaxes at home in the restyled peignoir from her film "Red-dy for Love" (Ashton Drake).  Bracelet is from Integrity.  Destiny Gene Marshall, re-coiffed and enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Director Ivy Jordan all set for the holidays in a gray wool suit accented with mauve and brown tones.  A striking hat tops her smart ensemble.  Suit from Integrity.  Embroidered gloves and earrings are from Ashton Drake.  Hat is from The Couture Touch.  Pearls and Pink Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.

Jazz great Violet Waters poses for a wardrobe test for a scene in her new holiday musical "Winter Baby".  Hat, skirt, and fur "collar" are from A Woman for all Seasons.  Top and shoes are from A Lady Knows.  Fur-trimmed gloves are from Blues in the Night.  All Ashton Drake.  Fur muff is from Integrity.  Belt and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Sunset Serenade Violet Waters is from Integrity.

Window Shopping

The Couture Touch recreates a spring display inspired by the wonderful department store windows of the 1940's and 50's.  The mannequins, bearing a striking resemblance to film stars Gene Marshall and Madra Lord, have been dressed in their finest spring regalia.

The Costumes:  Left - Shirtwaist dress is from Sandra Stillwell.  Belt from Integrity.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Purse from Mattel.  Right - Suit and jewels are from D.A.E. Originals.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Hat from The Couture Touch.  Umbrella from Fashion Boulevard.  A mannequin head, looking very much like star Zita Charles, displays a delightful floral hat from Hunter-Goldblatt Designs.

The Mannequins:  White Orchid Gene Marshall and Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord are from JamieShow.  Azalea Ice Zita Charles is from Integrity.

Gene's Rejuvenating Day at the Salon

This is a story of a beautiful star saddened by her ever increasing sallow body. With options dwindling, what's a gal to do? A day at the salon for a body transplant might just be the answer.

Ready for her treatment to begin.
Photo courtesy History in Photos

Beginning the face softening procedure. 
Photo courtesy Mashable

And in no time, Miss Marshall emerges refreshed with a new and improved body. Not only does she look and move like a supermodel but even thinks she's a bit taller. And her skintone is just the way she likes it. Now she is off in search of the perfect fashion for her new look.

Charmed Traveler by D.A.E. Originals

Hat and belt are from The Couture Touch. Gloves and bracelet are from Ashton Drake. Shoes and "alligator" train case are from Robert Tonner. Circa late 1940's.

Feather in Her Hat from the Anne Harper Collection
by Robert Tonner

Jewels, gloves, and phone are from Ashton Drake. Circa 1940's.

A Woman of Means from Sandra Stillwell's Hollywood Ahoy Event

Hat is from The Couture Touch, fur from Mattel, and shoes from Robert Tonner.  Jewels and gloves are from Ashton Drake. Scottie dog is from PD Root. Circa 1930's.

Ahh...There is nothing like a day at the salon!
Photo by Nina Leen for Time.

Now she just needs some more clothes. Oh, wardrobe......


Credits:

• Essentially Gene Blush is from Integrity. (Photo courtesy Gene Marshall Wikia.) 
• Miss Marshall's custom hairstyle is from Jim Gaddis.
• Vita replacement body for Gene Marshall is from Horsman.

In a Surreal State of Mind

Midnight Gamble Gene Marshall

Inspired by the delightful "Beignets and Coffee" ensemble from Sandra Stillwell's The Belle of New Orleans 2016 Event, Miss Gene Marshall asked her personal stylist to update her houndstooth top to reflect the whimsical surrealism of the original design. OOAK top, hat, and earrings are from The Couture Touch. Skirt is from Sandra Stillwell. Fur, belt, gloves, and feather-trimmed handbag are from Ashton Drake. Bracelet is from Facets by Marcia.

Beignets and Coffee

Inspired by this San nicholas design.
Photos courtesy Sandra Stillwell Presents.....

Blue Fox Gene Marshall

Unusual jewelry adds a playful touch to Miss Marshall's tailored suit ensemble. The restyled tweed jacket is from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection. OOAK hat, gloves, and jewelry are from The Couture Touch. Scarf and skirt are from Sandra Stillwell. Walking stick is from Ashton Drake.

Elsa Schiaparelli

The 20th Century avant-garde cultural movement known as Surrealism impacted art, literature, and even fashion. Designer Elsa Schiaparelli used whimsical, playful elements in her fashion and accessories. From jacket pockets that resemble bureau drawers complete with drawer pulls to hats in the shape of a shoe or lamb chop, she delighted in using everyday objects in unexpected ways. Even her jewelry designs often included a garden variety of forms that became the hallmark of a Schiaparelli creation.

Blue Belle Gene Marshall

Fanciful butterflies accent a luscious pink wool cocktail suit just in time for Spring. OOAK suit, wrap, reversible hat, gloves and jewelry are all from The Couture Touch.

Miss Gene Marshall

Credits:
Midnight Gamble, Blue Fox, and Blue Belle (enhanced with an Integrity articulated body) Gene Marshall are all from Ashton Drake.

Click HERE for availability and ordering information on Sandra Stillwell's fashions.

Gene Marshall in Zoe

1950's Suit Style in Black and White.

Miss Gene Marshall

Zoe is a sophisticated 3-piece suit ensemble designed by Sandra Stillwell for her 2015 Bellissima, Italian Style! event. The impeccably cut and intricately detailed suit is made of black and silver metallic checked silk. A dramatic black felt platter hat trimmed in black velveteen, gloves, and marvelous black and silver shoes (not shown) were included. Blue Belle Gene Marshall, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Lunch with Luciano

Wearing a sophisticated suit ensemble, American film diva Madra Lord arrived at the elegant St. George Hotel in Rome for lunch with famed Italian film director Luciano Emmer.  "Bellissima, my darling!"  Luciano exclaimed.

Miss Madra Lord

"Lunch with Luciano" features a beautifully detailed mustard and black checked, double-breasted jacket with tuxedo "tails"; slim black skirt, black gloves, and drop earrings. The original cream scarf is replaced with the lace blouse from Ashton Drake's "Hello Hollywood Hello" costume. A dramatic black feathered hat, "charm" bracelet (both from The Couture Touch), and black fur muff from Ashton Drake complete the stylish ensemble. And of course, every star needs a glamorous pair of sunglasses. (From Horsman's Vita Collection).

Photo courtesy Sandra Stillwell Presents....

Inspired by this circa 1950's suit ensemble from the House of Fontana, Sandra Stillwell created "Lunch with Luciano" exclusively for her 2015 Bellissima Italian Style!! event.

Photo courtesy vintagegal.co.uk

This versatile jacket style can go from daytime chic to evening elegance as illustrated on this circa 1940's Vogue Couturier Pattern envelope.

So after a successful lunch with Luciano....what better way to spend the remainder of the day?  Why shopping, of course!  


Credits:

Black Widow Madra Lord (enhanced with an Integrity body) is from Ashton Drake.
Photography backdrops are from raihing.com

The Sophisticated Shirtwaist

Impeccably Cut....Magnificently Accessorized.....

Madra Lord knows a thing or two about accessorizing! She pairs the phenomenal "Reading for Rossellini", a dotted shirtwaist-style dress from Sandra Stillwell's Bellissima, Italian Style! event, with the delightful hat and purse from Ashton Drake's "Lucky Stripe" costume. Gloves are from Integrity. "Spotted in Manhattan" Madra Lord is from Mel Odom and JamieShow.

Photo courtesy inspiredbykelly.blogspot.com

The iconic shirtwaist was one of the most popular and successful dress styles in the 1950's. Originally called the "shirtmaker" dress, it was introduced and advertised by Best & Company in New York City in 1926. The shirtwaist is a two-piece dress, stitched together at the waistline. The traditional shirtwaist borrows details from a man's shirt, however there were many variations. Shirtwaist dresses were often made up in crisp fabrics such as cotton or silk, much like a men's shirt would be. The 50's version featured a full, billowy skirt with a wasp-like waist. Women found the style easy-to-wear and flattering to most figures. It easily went from the market at eight, to lunch with the girls at noon, to a bridge party at four with just a change of accessories.

A knitted shirtwaist from a pattern courtesy todaystreasure.net

Photo courtesy The Nifty Fifties.

Dovima on the cover of Harper's Bazaar, February 1952.
Photo courtesy D.Tarantula.

An early Fashion Royalty wears a classic yellow shirtwaist from Bogue's Vogues. 
Hat and purse are from Mattel. 

Photo courtesy pleasurephotoroom.wordpress.com

Credits:
Color and Design in Apparel by Bernice Chambers. Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Madra Lord: Night and Day

Celebrating the glamour of 1950's fashion photography, Miss Lord shows her day and night style in black and white.

Gown from "Glammed Up Ivy" by Integrity.
Earrings from Ashton Drake.

Suit from Sandra Stillwell. Wrap from The Couture Touch.
Hat from D.A.E. Originals. Gloves from Ashton Drake.

"Spotted in Manhattan" Madra Lord is from JamieShow.

Cover Girl Madra Lord is the Toast of Manhattan

Madra Lord poses for the cover of Vogue in Sandra Stillwell's ultra chic Cover Girl 3-piece suit ensemble from her Toast of Manhattan Event. Perfectly coordinated accessories include a dramatic toque, gloves, belt, handbag, earrings, and leopard-trimmed shoes (not shown). The pin is from The Couture Touch.

Photo by Rawlings for Vogue, September 1, 1942

The original ensemble featured a Young-Timers' wool jersey two-toned dress topped with an overcoat of Forstmann wool with a leopard-stencilled lapin (rabbit fur) lining.  (Note: Wool linings were forbidden under the new wartime L-85 Government Regulations, but fur linings were legal and luxurious.)  Dress, coat, and hat from Henri Bendel.

"Spotted in Manhattan" Madra Lord is from JamieShow. Auburn wigcap borrowed from J'Adore Gene Marshall.